Bike Rack For 4.2

October 19, 2011

I'm looking for a way to carry a couple of mountain bikes on my 2003 Rav4, but the spare wheel on the back makes a regular bike rack impossible. I haven't got a tow bar or a Roof Rack, so either roof or rear mounting is going to cost a bit.. what do you guys use?

October 19, 2011

I'm hesitant to put a bike on the roof, just don't like the look of it, but if fitting bars is cheaper than a towbar perhaps it's worth considering.

Regarding others, the spare wheel is a pain the *****. Toyota's accessories booklet promotes a bar that goes inside the boot area, removing the front wheels of the bikes to slot them into it. Sadly this requires removing the two rear seats so not ideal if you have passengers (n.b. not a 4.2 in the pic below but gives an idea!)

A bit incredulous, I spoke to my local mechanic about this and he rang both Toyota and Thule for info. Toyota said 'no way around it' and Thule said, "yes, something did exist but not sure if we still make it." Great.

You can buy bike racks that attach the the rear wheel, but having read reviews on US sites it seems the door is not strong enough behind the wheel to take the extra weight but I guess that depends if you're a downhill biker or a carbon roadie.

eg:

My car came with a towbar fortunately so my way around is simply to remove the rear wheel, put it in the boot and the wheel cover and housing in the garage, and use a towbar carrier.

Given you've neither, if you are able to put the wheel in the boot I guess that opens up opportunities to use one of those clip-on 'straps and bars' variants hooked on the door frame as on a normal estate car. If you need all your boot space and seats, perhaps you'll just have to take a risk on a rear wheel mounted one.

October 19, 2011

In my opinion there is only one answer to this... Put your bike(s) on the roof...

I appreciate there is the initial outlay but there really is no better way to carry your bike ON a car. IN the car is better but I guess you've thought about that hence why we're having this discussion.

Why???

1. Less stealable - The bars are locked to the car, the bike carriers locked to the bars and the bike locked to the carrier... much harder to steal.. On the back (non tow bar), the bandits just have to cut the straps and they're off. Can't comment on security of the tow bar systems.

2. Aerodynamics - A bike is designed to travel forward, hence it is most aerodynamic when facing forward.. Putting a bike on the back of a car usually leaves the wheels sticking out the side. This is about as aerodynamic as a house. Yes, you do loose mpgs no matter which way you do it but in my experience the roof is better. I struggled to maintain 70mph in my Auris with three bikes on the back because of the drag. On the roof however there was no problem.

3. Extra width - I once had the wheel of my bike (carried on the back) hit by a bus as we tried to pass each other on a narrow single track road. He cleared the car but as the wheel stuck out further, he caught it... not impressed. On the roof, granted you carry extra height but you're not higher than a bus so therefore there are very few places you cannot get through. Off the top of my head the Rav travels at ~3m tall with bikes up top.

4. Crap off the road. On the back of your car, your bike will get covered in all the crap your car picks up off the road. If it is winter, this is usually salt and grit. If it's raining then it gets covered in grit and dirt. On the roof however when it rains they come off cleaner!!!

5. In an accident. Most accidents are front or rear end smashes. Bikes on the back will be smashed in a rear end shunt. On the roof they'd be fine. Granted if you rolled they be goosed but that would be the case no matter where they were.

Personally, I have an expensive bike but also need the space inside the car and as such there is no better way to carry the bike on the car than on the roof.

Also, don't cheap out on the bike carrier. I have the Thule 591...

This is the top of the range carrier from Thule. I also bought the one key system so all my carriers have the same keys.

Happy trails.

Weblers

October 19, 2011

Just to add, with the towbar rack type that supports the frame (not under the wheels) the front wheel on a DH bike can hover around the number plate area so when you go up or down a car park ramp this wheel can catch and jolt the handlebars into the back door. I have a pretty dent from this and now take the front wheel off... Silver lining to this is that it stops the bike sticking out the sides of the car so much as Webley mentions (although I don't think a bike wheel - mostly spokes - really adds to the drag of a 4x4).

To secure it I just use a rather formidable bike lock on the frame and a cable lock around the bike and the spare wheel support but you could try to unbolt the spare wheel support and kick the removable towbar out (I don't have a locking one) to make off with the whole lot.

October 19, 2011

In my opinion there is only one answer to this... Put your bike(s) on the roof...
I appreciate there is the initial outlay but there really is no better way to carry your bike ON a car. IN the car is better but I guess you've thought about that hence why we're having this discussion.
Why???
1. Less stealable - The bars are locked to the car, the bike carriers locked to the bars and the bike locked to the carrier... much harder to steal.. On the back (non tow bar), the bandits just have to cut the straps and they're off. Can't comment on security of the tow bar systems.
2. Aerodynamics - A bike is designed to travel forward, hence it is most aerodynamic when facing forward.. Putting a bike on the back of a car usually leaves the wheels sticking out the side. This is about as aerodynamic as a house. Yes, you do loose mpgs no matter which way you do it but in my experience the roof is better. I struggled to maintain 70mph in my Auris with three bikes on the back because of the drag. On the roof however there was no problem.
3. Extra width - I once had the wheel of my bike (carried on the back) hit by a bus as we tried to pass each other on a narrow single track road. He cleared the car but as the wheel stuck out further, he caught it... not impressed. On the roof, granted you carry extra height but you're not higher than a bus so therefore there are very few places you cannot get through. Off the top of my head the Rav travels at ~3m tall with bikes up top.
4. Crap off the road. On the back of your car, your bike will get covered in all the crap your car picks up off the road. If it is winter, this is usually salt and grit. If it's raining then it gets covered in grit and dirt. On the roof however when it rains they come off cleaner!!!
5. In an accident. Most accidents are front or rear end smashes. Bikes on the back will be smashed in a rear end shunt. On the roof they'd be fine. Granted if you rolled they be goosed but that would be the case no matter where they were.
Personally, I have an expensive bike but also need the space inside the car and as such there is no better way to carry the bike on the car than on the roof.
Also, don't cheap out on the bike carrier. I have the Thule 591...
This is the top of the range carrier from Thule. I also bought the one key system so all my carriers have the same keys.
Happy trails.
Weblers

I'd generally endorse what Dave has said: roof-mounted is the best overall solution. Having said that, I've used 3 of Halford's finest bike carriers on our roof bars for years now and they have been fine. Whilst I agree that roof mounted is best, I once saw a Volvo estate miss the height warning signs on the entrance to the access tunnel for T3(?) @ LHR resulting in a couple of mangled bikes and a trapped car which in turn closed the tunnel for an hour. Multi-storey car parks also need extreme care - just don't forget that tyou have an extra metre or so on top!